Story Behind The Song
As I walked between the grave markers at Gettysburg, I was struck by how many killed in the war were marked "UNKNOWN"---
Song Description
The sacrifices of those who fought in the Civil War are reflected upon through the lens of the unmarked graves at Gettysburg. After those terrible days of summer, the bodies left scattered throughout the battlefield were piled into graves with a single work etched on stone - Unknown.
| Song Length |
3:19 |
Genre |
Folk - Traditional, Folk - Americana |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant |
Subject |
War, Regret |
| Similar Artists |
Judy Collins |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1800 - 1899 |
| |
Lyrics
How vast the fields where young men lay, by dreams of honor led
In summer heat no place to lay the dying and the dead
A grassy hill, a simple field, covered row on row
and on each mossy stone is etched a single word: Unknown
In shallow graves, in hallowed soil buried where they fall
How deep the wounds that tore their souls, our nation, and us all
A grassy hill, a simple field, covered row on row
and on each mossy stone is etched a single word: Unknown
What mark for hearts by honor drawn? What mem'ry for a life?
What monument for glory's call? What word for sacrifice?
A grassy hill, a simple field, covered row on row
and on each mossy stone is etched a single word: Unknown
What monument for glory's call? What word for sacrifice?
On each mossy stone is etched that single word: Unknown